want to downsize the original healey steering wheel.

[maxwedge5281]

i wish to utilize the original healey steering wheel in my bn6. but, i want to reduce the diameter to approximately 13 inches. once i have replaced the original approximately 17 inch outside ring with a much smaller one, can anyone suggest where i might get the outside ring recovered in leather or some similar material. i did this myself once upon a time and was very pleased with the result...and it is still in use today in that car...bn6 converted to v8 in 1968! any suggestions appreciated. and, no i do not wish to do it myself unless i just have to!

 

[drambuie]

There are steering wheel restoration shops out there, they may be able to down size your original and still retain the stock look! You may want to browse the Internet and give them a call. Garyssteeringwheel.com

 

[bencii]

you might try https://www.new2youwheelrestoration.com/

 

[HealeyRick]

No experience with them myself, but this place does leather steering wheel covering: https://www.american-stitches.com/

 

[Michael Oritt]

That is a substantial decrease in wheel diameter and though the steering feel may be more direct, especially at high speed it will come at the expense of a lot more effort, especially when parking or at low speed. Also, have you checked to see how it affects your view of the instruments? I have 12" wheels on my race cars but they are much lighter than a Healey (half the weight) and the level of steering effort around the paddock is not a real consideration versus when actually racing.

 

[maxwedge5281]

i have a sbc engine which takes a considerable amount of weight off the front wheels. with my first conversion mentioned above the steering was not noticeably affected.. i am shooring for 13 inches overall diameter. i just drive it on the street and seldom park in tight spaces for fear of other drivers carelessness!

 

[RAC68]

Went to ebay at (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Bes...ash=item25b58086ed:g:ScUAAOSwHaBWir0N&vxp=mtr) and found this listing for a company that modified an original steering wheel with a wood rim.

I must agree with Michael that you are taking a dramatic reduction in applied steering leverage. I have reduced my steering wheel to a 15" wood rimmed unit and experienced a very acceptable increase in turn resistance at low speed. A while back, a friend had a 13" steering wheel that he temporarily adapted to his BN7. His conclusion was that steering resistance increased to an unacceptable level and felt it was not safe. Although it is possible that a 13" wheel in your car would not reflect his experience, I would suggest you find a way to mock up a 13" steering wheel and see how it would feel before modifying your original to that diameter.

My suggestion,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[maxwedge5281]

gentlemen. i also have a bj7 with a 13.5 inch steering wheel....aftermarket. it also has a small block chevy engine and it presents no problems with steering effort...but, thank you for your input! i just wish to maintain the banjo steering look in my bn6!!!

 

[RAC68]

I more fully appreciate your objective and recognize that, other then my old friend, you are probably one of a very small number with the experiential knowledge of a 13" steering wheel in a Big Healey. Although I have searched for an answer to your quest, and have found a number of service and how-to web sights addressing steering wheel construction or restoration, I have no personal knowledge of any and, therefore, could not offer a recommendation.

All the best,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[DerekJ]

Are you sure that wheel is 13.5? Looks bigger in the photo.

 

[maxwedge5281]

yes, i measured it before i commented. i really like the aftermarket wheel but i wanted to use a downsized original healey wheel...just smaller!

 

[Keoke]

yes, i measured it before i commented. i really like the aftermarket wheel but i wanted to use a downsized original healey wheel...just smaller!

There was such an animal years ago they use to show up on E-Bay once in a while i do not remember the diameter or what British car they came from anymore.

 

[maxwedge5281]

i got the steering wheel downsized and have located a shop to pad and cover in leather with stitching. the bare rim is 13 inches as opposed to the 16 inch healey bare rim.

 

[turtle]

That looks great. Can't wait to see it installed.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

i got the steering wheel downsized and have located a shop to pad and cover in leather with stitching. the bare rim is 13 inches as opposed to the 16 inch healey bare rim.

I had my original wheel downsized in size and I believe it's the same size you want to achieve. Lot's of beautiful wheels out there made from aluminum but I wanted something that would have the original style spoke design. Wood stained color was matched to the dash and the gear shift knob.

 

[healeyblue]

I think my wheel is smaller. Someone did this years ago. Maybe I'll pull the wood and get it wrapped like you are doing.

 

[bdcvg]

i got the steering wheel downsized and have located a shop to pad and cover in leather with stitching. the bare rim is 13 inches as opposed to the 16 inch healey bare rim.

Where did You end up sending the wheel for the mods?

 

[maxwedge5281]

craft customs in mesquite texas. i would send the link but i do not know how.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

craft customs in mesquite texas. i would send the link but i do not know how.

https://www.craftcustoms.com/